1
|
Hoffmann M, Jeitziner MM, Riedl R, Mueller G, Peer A, Bachlechner A, Heindl P, Burgsteiner H, Schefold JC, von Lewinski D, Eller P, Pieber T, Sendlhofer G, Amrein K. Effects of an online information tool on post-traumatic stress disorder in relatives of intensive care unit patients: a multicenter double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (ICU-Families-Study). Intensive Care Med 2023; 49:1317-1326. [PMID: 37870597 PMCID: PMC10622355 DOI: 10.1007/s00134-023-07215-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization is challenging for the family members of the patients. Most family members report some level of anxiety and depression, sometimes even resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). An association has been reported between lack of information and PTSD. This study had three aims: to quantify the psychological burden of family members of critically ill patients, to explore whether a website with specific information could reduce PTSD symptoms, and to ascertain whether a website with information about intensive care would be used. METHOD A multicenter double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was carried out in Austria and Switzerland. RESULTS In total, 89 members of families of critically ill patients (mean age 47.3 ± 12.9 years, female n = 59, 66.3%) were included in the study. 46 relatives were allocated to the intervention website and 43 to the control website. Baseline Impact of Event Scale (IES) score was 27.5 ± 12.7. Overall, 50% showed clinically relevant PTSD symptoms at baseline. Mean IES score for the primary endpoint (~ 30 days after inclusion, T1) was 24 ± 15.8 (intervention 23.9 ± 17.9 vs. control 24.1 ± 13.5, p = 0.892). Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS - Deutsch (D)) score at T1 was 12.2 ± 6.1 (min. 3, max. 31) and did not differ between groups. Use of the website differed between the groups (intervention min. 1, max. 14 vs. min. 1, max. 3; total 1386 "clicks" on the website, intervention 1021 vs. control 365). Recruitment was prematurely stopped in February 2020 due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). CONCLUSION Family members of critically ill patients often have significant PTSD symptoms and online information on critical illness did not result in reduced PTSD symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Hoffmann
- Research Unit for Safety and Sustainability in Healthcare, c/o Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Executive Department for Quality and Risk Management, University Hospital of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Marie-Madlen Jeitziner
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Nursing Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Regina Riedl
- Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Documentation, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Gerhard Mueller
- Department of Nursing Science and Gerontology, Institute of Nursing Science, UMIT TIROL - Private University of Health Sciences and Health Technology, Hall in Tyrol, Austria
| | - Andreas Peer
- Division of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Patrik Heindl
- Department of Intensive Care, Vienna General Hospital, Vienna, Austria
| | - Harald Burgsteiner
- Institute for Digital Media Education, University College of Teacher Education Styria, Graz, Austria
| | - Joerg C Schefold
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Philipp Eller
- Intensive Care Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Thomas Pieber
- Research Unit for Safety and Sustainability in Healthcare, c/o Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Gerald Sendlhofer
- Research Unit for Safety and Sustainability in Healthcare, c/o Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Executive Department for Quality and Risk Management, University Hospital of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Karin Amrein
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| |
Collapse
|